What are the Risk Factors for Heart Disease

In the study by Torpy, Burke and Glass (2009), the risk factors of coronary heart disease are identified, prevention measures are outlined, and possible lifestyle changes that can be positively effected are described. This paper will summarize the study by Torpy et al. (2009) and discuss the article’s recommendations for patients who may be at risk for coronary heart disease.
Torpy et al. (2009) begin the study by defining coronary heart disease against the backdrop of heart disease in general. They state that heart disease is the number one leading cause of death in the developed world, which is a rather shocking fact considering that the developed world knows both how to prevent heart disease and how to treat it. In other words, the developed nations are not lacking in knowledge on the subject and yet more people in the developed are dying of heart disease than any other disease—the reason being that they simply choose not to take care of themselves, get educated about their health, or take the steps to mitigate risks associated with heart disease.
With this context established, the authors then focus on coronary heart disease, which they describe as a type of heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease. As this second known implies, this type of heart disease is located in the heart’s arteries and relates to the flow of blood to the heart muscle. When fatty substances (also called plaque) build up alongside the walls of the heart’s arteries, blood platelets can get caught on them, cause a clot and begin to restrict the flow of blood. As a result, the heart muscle cells can lose oxygen that they would otherwise be getting in a normal artery. Or, worse, the individual can suffer a heart attack.
The researchers identify some of the studies that have been conducted in the past to help identify the major risk factors for coronary heart disease. The Framingham Heart Study, in which families in the town of Framingham, Massachusetts, were studied produced a lot of the accepted knowledge on coronary heart disease today. Medical professionals now know that the common risk factors for developing this type of heart disease are:
· Being a male over 40 or a female over 45
· Being a male
· Having a family history of coronary heart disease
· Being a smoker
· Having hypertension
· Having diabetes
· Being obese
· Not exercising enough
· Having unhealthy cholesterol levels
· Having excessive abdominal fat (aka an “apple” body shape)
The ways to prevent the onset of coronary heart disease or to mitigate the risk of development include quitting smoking, exercising at least for 30 minutes a day, seeking treatment for hypertension, controlling blood sugar levels if diabetic, losing weight, consuming a high-fiber diet (fruits, vegetables and grains), limiting animal fats, and lowering cholesterol. The researchers show that if these preventive steps are taken, one can substantially reduce one’s risk of developing coronary heart disease over the course of one’s lifetime.
References
Torpy, J. M., Burke, A. E., & Glass, R. M. (2009). Coronary heart disease risk factors.  JAMA, 302(21), 2388-2388.